Ink jet apparatus and cartridge having a structure for rubbing a cleaning blade

Abstract

An ink ejection recovery device including a cleaning blade for removing the ink adhered to the ejection orifice surface of a recording head further includes an ink removing mechanism, against which the cleaning blade is rubbed for removing the ink adhered to the cleaning blade itself, after wiping clean the ejection orifice surface; wherein the ink removing mechanism includes an ink transferring portion provided with a groove or a through hole, against which the cleaning blade is rubbed, and an ink absorbing member disposed in contact with the ink transferring portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ink jet cartridge comprising: a plurality of ejection orifices for ejecting an ink;   an ejection orifice surface on which said ejection orifices are located, said ejection orifice surface being disposed for rubbing by a cleaning blade for removing ink and any foreign matter therein from said ejection orifice surface; and   an ink removing mechanism including a plurality of elongated grooves without a cover for shielding said grooves, each of said grooves having a cross-section exposed on a surface different from said ejection orifice surface along the length of said grooves and opening on an extension of said ejection orifice surface, wherein said extension is disposed for rubbing by said cleaning blade after said ejection orifice surface is rubbed by said cleaning blade, and an ink absorbing member disposed in contact with said grooves, wherein said grooves are dimensioned for delivering any ink and foreign matter therein adhering to said cleaning blade and entering said openings to said ink absorbing member by capillary force.   
     
     
       2. An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the groove has a first cross-sectional area adjacent to said cleaning blade and a second cross-sectional area adjacent to the ink absorbing member, and wherein said first cross-sectional area is larger than said second cross-sectional area. 
     
     
       3. An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the groove has a first cross-sectional area adjacent to said cleaning blade and a same cross-sectional area adjacent to the ink absorbing member. 
     
     
       4. An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a cleaning blade contacting an end of the groove and an ink absorbing material contacting end of the groove is 3.5-4.5 mm. 
     
     
       5. An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a depth h of the groove is 0.4-0.5 mm. 
     
     
       6. An ink jet cartridge comprising: a plurality of ejection orifices for ejecting an ink;   an ejection orifice surface on which said ejection orifices are located, said ejection orifice surface being disposed for rubbing by a cleaning blade for removing ink and any foreign matter therein from said ejection orifice surface; and   an ink removing mechanism including a plurality of elongated grooves without a cover for shielding said grooves, each of said grooves having a cross-section exposed on a surface different from said ejection orifice surface along the length of said grooves and opening on an extension of said ejection orifice surface, wherein said extension is disposed for rubbing by said cleaning blade after said ejection orifice surface is rubbed by said cleaning blade.   
     
     
       7. An ink jet cartridge according to any of claims 1 or 2-6, further comprising an electrothermal transducer element for generating thermal energy for ejecting the ink through said ejection orifices. 
     
     
       8. An ink jet apparatus comprising: conveying means for conveying a recording medium;   a recovery mechanism for recovering an ink ejection performance of an ink jet cartridge comprising a recording head for ejecting an ink, said recovery mechanism including a cleaning blade for rubbing said recording head for removing any ink and foreign matter therein from said recording head;   an ink jet carriage which carries said ink jet cartridge, said ink jet carriage for scanning a recording zone where said recording medium is conveyed, and a non-recording zone where said recovery mechanism is located; and   an ink removing mechanism disposed on a part of said ink jet cartridge, said ink removing mechanism including a plurality of elongated grooves without a cover for shielding said grooves, each of said grooves having a cross-section exposed on a first surface of said ink jet cartridge along the length of said grooves and opening on a second surface of said ink jet cartridge, wherein said second surface is disposed for rubbing by said cleaning blade after said recording head is rubbed by said cleaning blade, and an ink absorbing member is disposed in contact with said grooves, wherein said grooves are dimensioned for delivering any ink and foreign matter therein adhering to said cleaning blade and entering said openings to said ink absorbing member by capillary force,   wherein at least two of said ink jet cartridges are mounted on said carriage so that color recording can be carried out, and said ink removing mechanism is located on said carriage, between said ink jet cartridges.   
     
     
       9. An ink jet apparatus according to claims 8, wherein said ink removing mechanism is located on said carriage, on a lateral surface against which said cleaning blade can be rubbed in a substantially continuous motion after wiping clean said recording head. 
     
     
       10. An ink jet apparatus comprising: conveying means for conveying a recording medium;   a recovery mechanism for recovering an ink ejection performance of an ink jet cartridge comprising a recording head for ejecting an ink, said recovery mechanism including a cleaning blade for rubbing said recording head for removing any ink and foreign matter therein from said recording head;   an ink jet carriage which carries said ink jet cartridge, said ink jet carriage for scanning a recording zone where said recording medium is conveyed, and a non-recording zone where said recovery mechanism is located; and   an ink removing mechanism disposed on a part of said ink jet cartridge, said ink removing mechanism including a plurality of elongated grooves without a cover for shielding said grooves, each of said grooves having a cross-section exposed on a first surface of said ink jet cartridge along the length of said grooves and opening on a second surface of said ink jet cartridge, wherein said second surface is disposed for rubbing by said cleaning blade after said recording head is rubbed by said cleaning blade.   
     
     
       11. An ink jet apparatus according to any of claims 8, 9 or 10, wherein said recording head includes ejection orifices for ejecting the ink, and further comprising an electrothermal transducer element for generating thermal energy for ejecting the ink through said ejection orifices.